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Wacom Intuos 3 - Boot Camp vs. Parallels

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

My stats:
iMac running Mac OS X Version 10.4.9 with all latest updates
2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo
2 GB 665 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Parallels 3 (Latest build updated 5 minutes ago :smiley: ) with Windows XP Professional
Wacom Intuos 3

I am running ZBrush 3 in Parallels and it is lightning fast. The only problem is that when using my Wacom tablet the input is not pressure sensitive. I called Wacom to see if the problem was with the driver and they informed me that Parallels uses mouse drivers to run the tablet even though I installed the Wacom tablet driver. The support tech said that there was no fix for this and if I wanted to have pressure sensitivity while running Windows on my Mac that I have to use Boot Camp instead. I just wanted to check with all of the experts here and make sure that is true.
Also, when running ZBrush 2 on my Mac the tablet works great with pressure sensitivity and everything. The menu item “Preferences/Tablet” is greyed out and does not respond to repeated clicks. I just want to make sure that I am not missing out on some extended functionality of my tablet.
Thanks to any and all in advance for responses.

Vince

#2

It’ll take a little work, but you can use your tablet as a tablet in Parallels.

I recommend updating to the latest parallels before beginning.

Have a regular mouse hooked up as well–I use a Logitech wireless MX Revolution which I use right on top of the tablet as if the tablet was a mousepad.

Next with your install of XP running, download but do not yet install the XP version of the Wacom driver. Put your XP in a window.

Now, go to your USB device control for Parallels in the lower left (it’s usually between the icon that looks like a speaker and the icon that looks like a folder). Click on it and select the thing that begins with “PTZ-xxx” (That’s how your tablet is identifying itself to OSX.)

The tablet will be immediately disconnected from OSX and now connected to Windows XP. (See why I told you to have a regular mouse hooked up? :smiley: )

Now, install the Wacom driver. Ignore the face the Windows is complaining about needing to find new drivers for the moment. Reboot Parallels after the driver installer is finished.

When Windows is back up, go back to the USB device control and make sure "PTZ-"whatever is still selected. If windows complains about needing to find device drivers for your “new” device, follow the recommend instructions–it should sort itself out and connect up your tablet.

Now go to Wacom panel and set up at least one tool (such as your pen). If Wacom’s panel doesn’t show pen-pressure in the testing area, recheck to make sure your tablet is connected in the USB device control. You may have to restart again if drivers were needed. If Wacom’s panel show’s pressure, you’re OK.

Now you can start Zbrushing with the Tablet. The preferences/tablet menu item should be available.

Each time you start this VM, it’s going to grab the tablet, so having a wireless mouse around and setup on OSX is handy (I don’t care for Wacom’s mouse, so I just always use my Logictech MX revolution and my Wacom mouse sits on the shelf beside my desk.)

HTH,

-K

#3

Kerwin,

Thanks so much for your prompt reply. I followed your procedure and I am happy to relate that it worked
 at least partially. The tablet does now register pressure sensitivity in ZBrush but the problem is that when using the tablet it will not update the position of the cursor on the screen. I can see the cursor on the screen and move it with my mouse but the pen on the tablet does not cause it to move. When I move the pen over the tablet it moves an “invisible” cursor that effect what it hovers over. When the “invisible” cursor navigates over buttons in ZBrush they light up and when it hovers over geometry it turns to the two red circles. The position of the two red circles updates when I move the pen over the tablet but as soon as the red circles move away from the geometry they disappear and I am stuck with the “invisible” cursor again.
This is a rather strange problem but at least I know now that the tech at Wacom was incorrect and I don’t have to go through the trouble of setting up Boot Camp!
I thank you for your time and request your further expertise on this matter Kerwin. It would be greatly appreciated.

Vince

#4

Sorry for the double posting.

Vince

#5

On Wacom’s site, there are several drivers for XP. Try using 6.02-1 or 6.00-5b. I seem to remember this is a problem with Parallels and the latest driver (6.04-4). (Be sure to use Wacom’s uninstaller or XP’s uninstaller before installing an earlier driver!)

The cursor is fine on my setup, but I’m running a 3.0quad with ATI x1900 installed, so we may have different GPU drivers at the OSX or XP levels.

HTH,
-K

#6

I uninstalled the 6.04-4 driver and tried both the 6.02-1 or 6.00-5b but to no avail. The invisible cursor persists. I appreciate your taking the time to respond to my inquiries Kerwin. I will continue to seek a solution to the problem and post it here when I find it.

Many thanks,

Vince

#7

The same thing can happen with Virtual PC and VMWare Workstation if you don’t install the Virtual Machine Additions. I am not sure if the same thing applies to the Virtual Host you’re using but you might look into that.

#8

Kosher,

I upgraded to Parallels 3 and re-installed Parallels Tools but that did not do the trick. I appreciate your input. Anybody else have any more suggestions?

Vince

#9

I’m running 6.00-5. Not sure what else to try, but maybe reboot windows & parallels a couple of times. Maybe reboot OSX at least once.

#10

I have done a lot of searching and found posts on both the Wacom and Parallels forum discussing this issue. It seems that many people are having the same problem. On the Parallels forum I came across a post by someone named “Plebian” who came up with a very interesting workaround. Go to your Control Panel and double click on Mouse to open up your mouse settings. Then under the tab Pointer Options look in the section Visibility at the bottom of the window and click in the box next to Display pointer trails to turn the option on. Also, move the slider directly beneath it all the way to the left where it says Short. The cursor flickers just a tiny bit but nothing that will interfere with your ability to work.
I thank you both, Kerwin and Kosher, for your efforts in helping me. It is people like yourselves, that take the time to render aid where possible, that make forums successful and useful for all.

Vince

#11

P.S. Another hit I was given is re-run the parallels tools installer and reboot the VM. Not sure if it will fix this problem, but can’t hurt. :wink:

#12

Hi there,

i have almost the same config, and it is great on bootcamp, but there is something going strange with the wacom drivers and bootcamp.

sometimes the driver doesn’t launch properly and you have to restart until it does , the problem is that your sidekeys don’t work and all your preferences.

the same on my macbookpro

now i don;t have the problem on my imac,(i;m using it almost 6 months i think without probs) after some restarting, i don;t know anybody (personally) with bootcamp and an intuos to check but it happened on both my intelmacs

and i am an experienced user (i think :))

#13

Apple pulling bootcamp for non-leopard users is a weird move, inconvenient for me anyway. I’ve been using parallels and XP now and it’s ok, but it’s a drag to waste resources on the osx shell & not be able to use all the ram for windoze


Enough bellyaching, anyway - I tried that work around with pointer trails and it doesn’t seem to be working (must be doing something wrong!) - will try it a few more times changing the sequence to hopefully find a solution. It’s very difficult to work when you can’t see your cursor!!

Here’s to z3 native on OSX!! It’s going to be a euphoric, dream-like experience that’s for sure. Can hardly wait


btw kudos to everyone at pixologic for rocking my world :cool:

#14

Hi SuperGlitcher
I’ve just upgraded to a MacPro and ZB3.1 and use a Wacom Graphire 4. After initially the same problems as the rest of you, yesterday I managed to get things working using Kerwin and Praxxis’ solutions above.

  1. If you can’t see your cursor, you’ve presumably “captured” your tablet with the Parallels USB device control (lower right), or else it would be working as a mouse and you would see the cursor.
  2. If you can see the tablet preferences in ZB then I believe you have installed the Windows driver OK.
  3. At this point all you should have to do is use Praxxis’ workaround: go into the Windows Control Panel and open the mouse setup. “Then under the tab Pointer Options look in the section Visibility at the bottom of the window and click in the box next to Display pointer trails to turn the option on. Also, move the slider directly beneath it all the way to the left where it says Short.”
    It works great for me - you can’t really tell the difference between normal cursor behaviour and this “trails” behaviour at all. Good luck!!
#15

Apparently I didn’t hit ‘Apply’
such a 'tard!!!

sigh well
 at least it’s working!
As usual, you guys are awesome

thanks again! :smiley:

am running zb on my macbookpro
now (as I have parallels and XP
already installed for UV Layout)-
I’ve got a old dual G5 I’m going to
upgrade once zb is native
 hopefully
all the leopard weirdness should
be worked out by then. fingers crossed

anyway, thanks again everyone +
dondemaker for getting me to
try again :cool: